Switch or point for railways, tramways, and the like.



No. 797,870. y

A. J'. SMITH'. SWITCH 0R POINT PUR RAILWAYS, TRAMWAYS, AND THB LIKE.APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1906.

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No. 797,870. PATENTE-D AUG. 22,1905.

A. J. SMITH.

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111/11flllllllllrfl//l/IA JZW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ALBERT JAMES SMITH, OF CARDIFF, ENGLAND.

SWITCH OR POINT FOFI RAILWAYS, TRANIWAYS, AND TH LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application led January 9, 1905. Serial No. 240,306.

Tramways, and the Like, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to switches or points of railways, tramways, andthe like, and has for its object to provide simple mechanism whereby thedriver of the vehicle can operate the points when required and in somecases also can simultaneously manipulate the frog of the overheadsystem, thus obviating the l necessity for a pointsman, and consequentlysaving considerable expense.

In carrying the invention into erfect a simple arrangement is providedwhereby the point is pressed by a spring, but is held against the actionof said spring in the normal position by a plate and catch, means beingprovided, operated by the driver of the vehicle, whereby the catch maybe withdrawn and the plate released when the point is required to beturned to give access to a branch line, while a flange on the last wheelof the vehicle is arranged to depress a cam and pull back the point toits normal position after the car has passed on to the branch line. An

arrangement is also provided directly connected to the point-operatingdevice and adapted to turn the frog of the overhead electrical equipmentwhenever the point is turned.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates in plan the principalcasting for the point with the point-operating devices applied thereto,the covers of the boxes for said mechanism being removed. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the casting shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section o1Llthe casting on the line A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on theline C D of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line E F of Fig. 1.Fig. 6 illustrates, by way of example, one device applicable to the caritself and adapted to be moved by the driver for operating the point.Figs. 7 and 8 are a cross-section and side elevation, respectively, ofthe track, showing the manner in which the rear wheel of the vehicledepresses the tumbler for replacing the point. Fig. 9 illustrates amodified form of the appa ratus for replacing the point.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 to 5, t is the main casting of the point, and7) is the actual tongue or switch of the point, pivoted at c. On theinside of the track is a box or casting UZ, the

outer walls 10 of which are held up in the example shown bybolts e, saidbox containing the principal parts of the point-operating mechanism. Aslot f is formed in the top of the casting d', said slot being taperedand deepened toward a point in front of the box g, in

which a tumbler is arranged. The tumbler /L g is pivoted at c', and itsprojection (seen in Fig.

2) normally stands upward in the groove f. The tailpiece j of thetumbler is connected by a rod to a catch Z. This catch is pivoted at nin a box m and is pressed forward by a spring 0, surrounding the rod Zr.In the box m is pivoted at p a plate q, having a tooth thereon (seen inFig. 1) adapted to be engaged by the tooth of catch Z, and a rod r,pivotally connected at 35 to the plate q, passes through a slot in thetongue Z and into a box s at the outer side of the track. A sleeve t onrod r presses against the tongue Z under the action of a spring u,surrounding the rod r and abutting against the nut and washer v. A secondspring w outside the former presses against the point-casting to forcethe rod routward into the box s, and so to turn the tongue of the pointtoward said box. The rod r engages against the rear of the point by acollar formed thereon at 36.

A second. rod fr, provided with an adjusting arrangement y, is pivotedto the plate q at z, and infront of the box 2 said rod .fr is pivoted tothe tailpiece 3 of a tumbler 4, adapted to turn on a pin 5. The upperpart of said tumbler when the point is in the position shown lies flushwith or slightly below a raised part 6 opposite the groove in the railtrack. When the point-tongue is turned, however, the back ofthe tumblerprojects above the raised part 6, as will be described below, and isdepressed by the flange on the rear wheel or' the vehicle for replacingthe point.

For draining away any accumulations of mud, water, stones, zc., whichmay lodge in front of the tongue of the point and might prevent itsproper working the box s is made as a mud-box communicating with thepoint-slot by an opening 7 and havinga drainage-opening at 8.

For operating the mechanism any suitable device may be applied to thevehicle, said device comprising a foot-plate or hand-lever to beoperated by the driver and some mechanism connected with said foot-plateand adapted to cause a skate or the like to engage with the tumbler 7L.One arrangement is illustrated as an example in Fig. 6. Pivoted at 11beneath the platform of the car is a `rocking lever 12, at the forwardend of which is a stem 13, carrying a plate 14 and having a projectingpin 15 adapted to engage in the teeth of a pivoted rack 16, which ispressed forward by a spring 17. To the rear end of lever 12 is connecteda rod 18, carrying' a roller 19, adapted when depressed to run in thegroove f, while an arm 20, projecting' from the rod 18, is adapted toengage with thetumbler in said groove and to turn same. The rod 18 worksin a box 21, held by brackets 22, and the said rod has a collar 23,against which a compression-spring 24 bears. With this: jarrangementwhen approaching the point the driver presses back the rack 16, allowingthe plate 14 to rise, whereupon the spring 24 causes the rod 18 to falland the roller 19 and projection or skate 2O enter the groove f and, asbefore described, eiect the operation of the pi'nt.vv` After theoperation is completed the ldrive'rcan replace the device by depressingthe plate'714;l but if he neglects to do so the parts will belrais'ed atleast to the roadlevel by the upWardl,v"-inclined part f' of thegroove,andthe tooth"`1'5, catching in the rack 16, will hold up theparts Forfreplaci'ng the point'the tumbler 4 is provided, as abovedescribed, and. a flange 25, formed or bolted on *the insideofnthe rearwheel 9 of 'the vehicle, is adapted to-depress said tumbler. The flange25 on the inside of the wheel is of lessdiameter than the bearingflange26, so that the former will not touch the roadway or inner flange of therail under normal circumstances. As, however, the inner flange of therail is raised at 6, the flange on the wheel will just touch the uppersurface of'theraised part 6y and will depress the tumbler 4 to the levelof said surface, as shown in'Fig'. 8. rlhe additional flange 25 isprovided onthe vtwo diagonally opposite end ,wheels'ro'f the car in suchpositions that in whichever direction the car is vtraveling one of the:wheels will be iat the rear and will effect the'replacing' of the point.

,1n Fig. 9is shown a device which may be used inplace of the flange 25.In this case an arm 2,7, projecting behind the vrear wheel of thevehicle, has pivoted thereto an arm 28, carryinga roller 29. .A rod 30,pressed downward .by a spring 31, ,holds the roller 29 stronglyy againstthe rail. The roller 29 is of Jsuch width that it will have thefunctions of the flange 25 and will depress the tumbler 4. The head'32of rod 30 may, however, limit the downward movement of said roller, sothat it will not roll upon the -rail under normal circumstances, butwill only roll upon the raised part 6, Fig. 2.

Asis Well known, it is usual for .the frog of the overhead equipment tobe pulled in onev direction against the action of a spring by a cordcontrolled .by the pointsman. According to this invention said cord maybe carried stance, at 34-in order to allow for flexibility in operation.

The method of working the above-described y apparatus will be to a largeextent obvious from the foregoing description.

hicle approaching a point is to continue in the track without thereversal of the tongue the` driver of said vehicle will not depress hisskate or operating mechanism and the tongue will g remain in its normalposition. If, however, the vehicle is to pass along the branch orlessused line, the driver will depress his skate, so

causing the tumbler L to turn, whereby the r catch Z is withdrawn, andthe plate q being released the rod r is forced outward under the laction of spring w, the tongue being moved with .the rod into thereversed position, owing to the operation of the collar 36, and the velhicle passes into the branch or less-used track. Further, owing to theaction of the rod with plate g, said rod is moved so as to cause thetumbler 4 to project above the raised part 6. 'When all the wheels havepassed the tongue,

the iiange 25 on the rear wheel rolls over the projecting tumbler 4 anddepresses the same,

forcingv back the plate q until the tumbler is Q level with the raisedpart 6 and the plate is y held by the catch Z, so that the point now oclcupies its normal position, in which the spring It will be seen that thepoint is moved indirectly by the action of I w is under compression.

spring a and sleeve t. Consequently if in closing' theplate movesslightly too far or if any obstruction occurs the mechanism will not bebroken, but the spring u will give or become compressed to the requiredextent.

The modified arrangement shown in Fig. 9 will operate the tumbler 4 inexactly the same manner as the ange 25. 1f the cord 33 of the overheadequipment is connected to the pin 35, said cord will be pulled when thepoint-*tongue is reversed and will be released again when the tongue ismoved back to its normal position. rl`he frog must of course be soplaced that the trolley Will pass over it during the interval betweenthe operation of the tumbler it by the device in front of the firstwheel and the depression of the tumbler 4 by the flange on the rearwheel.

It must be understood that the above is only one example of aconstruction in accordance with this invention. The castings and partsmight be made differently so long as the vmethod of operation were notinterfered with. Further, in case the tongue Z) were provided with aspring tending to compelit to follow y When a vethe rod r in its outwardmovement the collar 36 would beunnecessary, as said tongue would moveafter the rod when the catch Z was withdrawn.

What I claim is l. In an operating device for the point of rail-track',the combination with the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, meanswhereby said rod engages positively with the point-tongue in onedirection, spring means engaging the point-tongue with the rod in theother direction of movement, a spring tending to turn said point-tongue,a catch normally preventing said tongue from being turned, means adaptedto be operated from a vehicle for releasing the catch, and means adaptedto be operated from the vehicle for replacing the point-tongue.

2. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combinationwith the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, means whereby said rodengages positively with the point-tongue in one direction, spring meansengaging the point-tongue with the rod in the other direction ofmovement, a spring tending to turn said point-tongue, a plate to whichsaid rod is pivoted said plate having a projection, a pivot for saidplate, a catch normally engaging the projection and holding the plate ina position in which the point-tongue is held against the action of thespring, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for drawing back thecatch and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for replacingthe plate and tongue against the spring action.

.3.' In an operating device for the point of a yrail-track, thecombination with the pointcasting and point-tongue, of a rod, meanswhereby said rod engages positivel-y with the point-tongue in onedirection, spring means engagingthe point-tongue with the rod in theyother direction of movement, a spring tending to turn saidpoint-tongue, a catch nor- Inally preventing said tongue from beingturned, a tumbler mounted to rock in the casting and so placed as toproject into a slot in the casting distinct from the Wheel-groove, a rodconnecting said tumbler to the catch, means for operating said tumblerfrom a vehicle, and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle forreplacing the point-tongue.

4. In an operating device for the point of a rail track, the combinationof a point-casting having a raised portion at the inside edge of therail-groove near to the branching end of said casting, the point-tongue,spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, a catch deviceadapted to hold the tongue against the action of the spring, meansadapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing said catch device, atumbler pivoted in a slot in the casting at the raised part thereof,means connecting the tumbler to the point-tongue in such manner thatsaid tumbler is raised above the raised portion of the casting when thetongue is released from the catch device, and means applied to a vehicleadapted to move over the raised part of the casting and depress saidtumbler whereby the point-tongue may be replaced.

5. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combinationof the point-casting and point-tongue therein, spring' means tending tomove the point-tongue to one side, a catch device for holding thepoint-tongue against the action of said spring means, apparatus adaptedto be operated from a vehicle for releasing the catch device, a tumblerand means so connecting it with the point-tongue that said tumbler israised above the rail-track at the inside thereof when the point-tongueis released, and a flange on the inner side of a vehicle-wheel saidflange being of such size that it does not normally run on the track butwill serve to depress the tumbler when said tumbler is projectedupwardly, whereby the point will be replaced as the flange passes overthe tumbler but will not be moved by any other wheel to which the eXtraliange is not fitted. 1

6. In an operating device for the point of a railftrack, the combinationof a point-casting having a raised portion at the inside edge of therail-groove near to the branching end of said casting, the point-tongue,spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, a

catch device adapted to hold the tongue Y against the action of thespring, means adapted to be operated from a vehicle for releasing saidcatch device, a tumbler pivoted in a slot in the casting at the raisedpart thereof, means connecting the tumbler to the point-tongue in suchmanner that said tumbler is raised above the raised portion of thecasting when the tongue is released from the catch device, and a flangeapplied to the inner side of a vehicle-wheel said'liange being of suchsize that it will not run on the track except at the raised part,whereby said flange may rserve for depressing the tumbler and replacingthe point-tongue.

7. In an operating device for the point of a rail-track, the combinationof a point-casting having branched rail-grooves, a tongue-slot and anadditional slot with inclined ends at the side of the rail-groove, apoint-tongue in the tongue-slot, a tumbler adapted to project into theadditional slot, spring means tending to move the tongue to one side, acatch device controlled by the tumbler for holding the tongue againstthe action of the spring means, a vehicle adapted to travel on therail-track, a rod on said vehicle, a spring tending to move said roddownward, a catch adapted to hold -up said rod, and means supported bythe rod adapted to engage the tumbler in the additional slot when therod is depressed, andto be pushed upward by the inclined end of saidslot.

8. The combination with the point-castingV and point-tongue, of the rod7" with springs u and fw, pivoted plate q, catch Zand means forreleasing said catch and for moving back the pointitongue against theaction of spring the end of said rod, roller 19, and means for holdingup said rod, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereofl I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT JAMES SMITH.

Witnesses:

THoMAs THOMAS, JOHN CoRAY.

